The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1887-06-07
Address Before the Literary Societies.

Ill lhSb@MlsS Ab, QG6 9ktG Lille MGaNyH
thunder storm which arose about
$50 o'clock, . large audience at-
tracted By the fame of the speaker
assembled ia the New University
Hall to hear the lecture to the Young
men Of the literary societies, BIZ
Hon. VIM. y. Wilson, IL. d, eS-
President Of the Univertity.
The band struck lib Just at Sa
o'clock, when the orator Of the ocea-
sion was escorted up the aisle to
the platform BIZ the Presidents of
the literary societies, preceded BY
six ushers, each wearing badge,
the color Of which indicated his 80
|ciety affiliations.
Mr.. d. q. Jamison, President Of
the Parthenon society, then an
nounced that prayer would be offer
ed BY Rev. A. M. Buchanan. After
music by the orchestra, MI. 1T. Fl.
Ryland, President Of the Columbian
society, introduced Hon. VIM II
Wilson as. the speaker Of the even
ing, whose theme was to be Pros
poets Of Popular Government in
America.
Upon coming forWord upon the
platform Mr. Wilson was greeted
with hearty applause.
After expressing the pleasure ex-#
perienced BIZ standing upon the very
platform, from which, just four years
ago, he in his address to the grad
Mating class, severed his connection
with the University as President.
After noting with regret the pres
ence OF SO few familiar faces among
the young gentlemen, he said he
would forego the temptation of de-
.liyering unto them an orthodox lee
ture, but rather would tell I'd them
some, lessons learned by him in po-
litical life. He first distinguished
between government On paper and
government in actual existence be.
tween theoretieal and actieaal;; ]
between the idesr 81 geIegnmellt de
rived from the accord Il curtis, the
researcher books, Ind bhe teaching
Of the schools, and the knowledge Of.
government as learned from its every
day workings
Then the speaker took Tip the in
fiuences that were brought to bear
upon our fathers, Wlich induced
them To model our government as
they did, he traced the evolution Of
both England S and our government
from what they fist were up. to the
present time. Carefully noting the
successive steps and defining the
powers of each department Of gov.
ernment IN each step, he traced the
differences and resemb lances of the
two governments. Showing concIn-
siVely our officers Of government were
possessed Of more potent power than
Queen Victoria.
1 Our President is commander Of
army and navy the executive officer
of the land an agent ii the making
of laws; the maker Of treaties, and
he can only be removed. from power
for crime, while the Queen is Il
mere fgurehead and possesses no
power in the English government,
except such as her influence Of
social position would give.
In the same manner it was demon
strated that our senate was possess
ed Of far greater powers than the
House of Lords And sothe differ
ences Of the two governments were
pointed out, and the tendencies of
their dfssimilarities noted.
Then turning his attention to our
own government, he setting forth the
greatly increased prerogatiVes Of the
Senate over those of that body.
lofeighty years ago, he hastily pass
ed to the House Represe tatives.
Here, reyerting to his own expert
ence ID special cases, NIL. Wilson
showed the impossibility of this law
making body doing what il ought
ON account of its immense size, and
great variety Of legislative subjects.
Frequently ii narrating congress
sional experiences was he interrupt
ed by applause Speaking of the
questions coming before this, the
greatest laW-making body ii the
world, he dwelt at length upon the
complication of the questions of
Revenue, Finance, Administration
LOT Justice, Labor and Capital And
said that owing to the nnWieldly